During the day Florida beaches are filled with sunbathers. But at night wild sea turtles weighing hundreds of pounds lumber out of the sea and onto the sands in an ancient ritual to lay their eggs.
Visitors are often surprised to learn that more than 100 000 threatened and endangered sea turtles nest on Florida beaches every summer. In fact nearly 90 percent of sea turtle nesting in the U.S. occurs in Florida from March through October of each year.
What’s even better is that you can see it happen in person.
Up and down the Atlantic coast where sea turtle nests are most common parks and environmental groups organize nighttime sea turtle walks in June and July.
Getting a chance to see a sea turtle in action takes some planning but those who’ve done it say it's a memorable experience.
On a typical turtle tour visitors are led to a spot on the beach where a sea turtle is digging a hole a foot or two deep with her hind flippers. The turtle then starts filling the nest with soft-shelled eggs the size of table tennis balls. After laying her eggs she refills the nest with sand and heads back into the ocean. The whole process takes 30 to 60 minutes.
On turtle walks a hushed circle of humans watches the spectacle. Two months later the eggs hatch and scores of tiny turtles emerge from the sand at night and clamber into the water.
Florida’s most common variety of sea turtle is the loggerhead which averages 200 to 250 pounds. Larger leatherbacks and green turtles nest here in smaller numbers but turtle walk participants are not allowed to watch them lay eggs because leatherbacks and greens are endangered and the presence of people might be disturb the nesting.
To see a nesting turtle you must go with a group: Turtle walk guides know the federal and state laws about what is and isn’t permissible. For example no flashlights (except for guides who must have permits) and no flash photography are allowed.
All sea-turtle walks require advance reservations. Several of the most popular sea-turtle walk locations are away from urban centers so a turtle walk might make a good anchor for a weekend getaway or beach vacation.
Here are some quick tips about sea-turtle walks:
● You'll be with a group of 20 or 40 people. All sea-turtle walk programs are required to begin with an information session or talk. During that time most programs send out scouts to find nesting sea turtles for the group to observe.
● You must be able to walk a mile or two on sand.
● Bring insect repellent a water bottle and patience. No matter where you go there's no guarantee you'll see a sea turtle.
● Most turtle walk tours don’t accept children under age eight though some accept children as young as six.
● Most turtle walks charge a fee some as much as $20 per person. Some are free but most fill up fast so book early.
Though much of the time you’ll see the nesting process there’s no guarantee how a season will develop. You can sign up for a walk wait for hours and see nothing but moonlight and waves. Those who are fortunate witness turtle nesting.
Here are few places that you can enjoy this once-in-a lifetime experience in Florida:
- John U. Lloyd Beach State Park 6503 N. Ocean Dr. Dania Beach 954-923-2833
- Sebastian Inlet State Park Fishing Museum 14251 N. State Road A1A Vero Beach 772-388-2750
- Barrier Island Sanctuary 8385 S. Highway A1A Melbourne Beach 321-723-3556
- Sea Turtle Preservation Society 111 S. Miramar Ave. Indialantic 321-676-1701
- John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive.
North Palm Beach FL 33408 (561) 624-6952
See sea turtles every day
You can get close to a threatened or endangered sea turtle species any day of the year with a tour of The Turtle Hospital in Marathon a non-profit rehabilitation center in the Florida Keys that rehabilitates sick and injured turtles and provides tours that allow people to see sea turtles up close. The hospital is located at 2396 Overseas Highway at mile marker 48.5 on the bay side. The phone number is 305-743-2552.
Click here for more information about where to see sea turtles.
Photos by Florida Fish & Wildlife